Newsletter Features
Are you ready for the upturn? - small business news from Balance at Work
A recognised early effect of improved economic conditions is a significant increase in the mobility of employees. Usually, highly skilled employees who are confident in their employability will jump first. This has implications for employers in two main areas, retention and recruitment.
You have skilled and experienced staff who are an asset to your business. Don’t give them any reason to start looking elsewhere!
First Impressions Count
When meeting a client for the first time it is critical you make the right impression. How well you do during this first meeting reflects how well prepared you are, how professional you are and how much you value your meeting.
In the first 5 minutes it is critical you establish your credibility. People like to work with people they like so don’t focus
on selling your product until you have sold yourself.
SEO Explained
In the previous issue we explored Google’s popular Pay Per Click (PPC) Advertising Tool Adwords. In brief Adwords allows advertisers to secure a high listing on Google and charges them each time someone clicks on their listing. As an alternative to a PPC campaign, website owners can implement a Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) strategy to achieve a high listing in the organic section of the search page, that is that section of the page that is not paid advertising. Now whilst it doesn’t cost website owners each time someone clicks on an organic listing, significant costs can occur if you pay for experts or consultants to administer this campaign for you.
Going to Court? Make sure your lawyer has the expertise.
Within Australia, there are many courts and tribunals that exist for different types of cases and it can sometimes be confusing as to how and in which court you need to be represented. Not all lawyers can represent clients in the more specific and dedicated courts. With such a range of courts and tribunals in our legal system it is important for your legal representative to have experience and up-todate knowledge of how each of them operates.
Learn more »
Do you have an FBT liability this year?
It is a common practice for employers to provide additional items on top of an employee’s salary or wage.
Some of these items could include.
- Car or other vehicles owned or leased by the business available to employees for private use.
- Loans provided at reduced interest rates to employees.
- Employee released from an owed debt.
Trusts - What options are there for you?
There are many complex trust structures available and it can be hard to decide which one is right for your needs. Below is an outline of the most common trust structures, which may help you to determine which one is right for your situation.
Changes to Employment Law and NES - know your rights and responsibilities
The Fair Work Act 2009 sets out 10 minimum conditions of employment. These National Employment Standards (NES) were effective as of 1 January 2010 and will replace the existing Australian Fair Pay and Conditions Standard. Together with modern awards, the NES will constitute the government’s new employment safety net.
Maximise the return on your investment property - know what expenses you can claim
Owning an investment property can be a rewarding experience, both financially and emotionally. Apart from the purchase cost of the property there are numerous other costs involved such as bank fees and interest, body corporate fees, conveyancing costs as well as stamp duty and other tax liabilities.
However, all of these extra costs need not leave the avid investor completely out of pocket. With a little tax knowledge and some professional advice you may be able to claim a majority of the expenses associated with the purchase, ongoing maintenance and the process of generating income from your investment property, as tax deductions.
Will your bookkeeper be compliant under the new Tax Agent Services Act 2009?
Legislation for the Tax Agent Services Act 2009 has been drafted and is intended to be enacted early in 2010. The new regulations will see that bookkeepers who are currently preparing and lodging Business Activity Statements (BAS) for a fee are now required to meet standard eligibility criteria and must be registered to perform those services.
Are you entitled to contest a Will?
The passing of a loved one can be an extremely emotional experience. This can be made all the more difficult if there is any kind of dispute against the Will of the deceased.
Disputes often arise when parties that are associated with the deceased person disagree with their intentions as contained in their Will.
